A spokesman for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Thursday he expects the governor to sign legislation paving the way for billionaire developer Ed Roski Jr. to begin construction of an NFL stadium in Industry.

The bill could be signed anytime in the next 12 days, officials said. State Sen. Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles, said she hopes it takes place in the San Gabriel Valley.

“We want a bill signing here,” said Romero, who represents much of the east San Gabriel Valley. “Do it right there at the site. That will be our asking of (the governor).”

The state Senate approved the exemption to the California Environmental Quality Act authored by Assemblyman Isadore Hall III, D-Compton, 21-14 on Wednesday. Approval came despite objections from senators representing the San Diego area and those concerned about the state’s environmental laws. The proposed law would grant the 75,000-seat stadium project a CEQA exemption and toss out a remaining lawsuit against the project.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina said Thursday she will welcome the stadium with open arms, but questioned the wisdom of granting the environmental exemption.

“I’ve never had a problem with the stadium – that’s not the issue for me,” Molina said. “I’m very disappointed in the CEQA exemption. It’s unfortunate that the legislature had to go this route.”

A spokesman for Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich said he wondered how the legislature could grant an environmental exemption for an NFL stadium, but not for building hospitals, extending the Gold Line or implementing other vital transportation projects.

“The legislature shouldn’t discriminate in favor of an NFL stadium,” Antonovich spokesman Tony Bell said. “We need to rev up economic engines throughout the Valley. There should be an equity in priorities.”

The exemption became a necessity after a group of eight Walnut residents banded together and filed a lawsuit challenging Roski’s $800 million plan.

Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, tried to negotiate a last-minute settlement with the group, known as the Citizens for Community Preservation Inc., but was unable to do so.

A similar suit filed by Walnut in March was resolved after mediation.

Molina said the stubbornness of the citizen’s group could ultimately hamper legitimate environmental groups throughout the state.

“I wish the citizens would have found a compromise,” Molina said. “They just wanted to be intrusive and get their way. They hurt of us all in the long run, because now other big projects will be looking to the legislature to grant CEQA exemptions.”

Romero noted no environmental groups ever protested the two Environmental Impact Reports produced for the project site.

“The law should never be used as a means for extortion,” she said.

Not content with the outcome, members of the Walnut citizen’s group said they are considering asking the state Senate to initiate an ethics probe into Sen. Bob Huff’s involvement, according to Howard Wang, first vice president of the citizens group.

Huff, R-Diamond Bar, participated in a procedural vote that helped move the environmental bill to the Senate floor even though his wife Mei Mei Huff works for Majestic Realty.

But, Huff then abstained from the floor vote, citing a conflict of interest.

Wang said the first vote was unethical.

“(Legislators) didn’t have enough votes to move the bill to the floor, so Huff voted to get it to there,” said Wang.

Should Schwarzenegger sign the bill it will effectively kill the citizens’ lawsuit.

The governor’s spokesman, Aaron McLear, said ultimately the stadium proposal works for the San Gabriel Valley – and the region – because it will generate jobs.

McLear pointed out that Schwarzenegger likes the stadium proposal, but hopes it doesn’t attract a California team – so as not to take jobs from another region.

“The governor supports bringing the NFL back to L.A. and creating jobs,” McLear said. “L.A. should have an NFL team and it will be a huge, huge economic boon.”

McLear said Schwarzenegger, a huge football fan, follows the 49ers, Raiders and Chargers, three of six teams said to have an interest in moving to Industry.

Nonetheless, McLear said the governor hopes Roski attracts an out-of-state team to Industry.

“We would push to maintain the current NFL teams; we don’t want one from here,” McLear said. “(Schwarzenegger’s) preference would to have not relocate any of the NFL teams but to have a team come in from elsewhere.”

Schwarzenegger has expressed interest in bringing the NFL back to Los Angeles, which last had a team in 1994. After that season, both the Rams and Raiders left Southern California. The Rams moved to St. Louis; the Raiders returned to their former home in Oakland.

As recently as 2006, the governor helped pitch an ambitious plan to bring two NFL teams to Southern California.

If Schwarzenegger signs the bill, the law would take effect 90 days from Wednesday, officials said. That means the full approval wouldn’t kick in until mid-January.

Staff Writers James Wagner, Tania Chatila and Steve Hunt contributed to this report.